Great Falls tribune., 1887-08-31
STATEHOOD.

Admirable sentiments were ex-
pressed at the grand banquet which
Helena gave on Wednesday evening
in compliment to the editors who met
there this year. Statehood was, of
course. a leading topic and elected
some emphatic declarations. Dele
gate Too1e, in responding for 'sour
country made appropriate reference
to the subject in these words:
And while we thus reverence the con-
stitution and the laws, let us not forget
that here, amid these mountains and our
homes, we have rights which We dare as
sert and dare maintain. Let as not forget
that We have all of the elements and the
requisites which entitle us to believe that
the days Of territorial existence can now
be numbered. and that soon We may take
cur place in the galaxy of states. APP
plause.l Remembering that this con-
summation is in keeping with the prlnei-
pies Of the constitution. to this end let us
emulate the example of the fathers III the
republic who SO vigorously and success
fully d nouneed colonial government, and
henceforth devote our lives and our ener-
gies to this result. Applausel
This declaration of independence"
met with a hearty response from
Delegate Voorhees,, who, in terms
which show that he inherits the elo-
quence Of his distinguished father,
said:
| came here from the sunset side OF your
golden mountain: from land filled with
possibilities as promising as ever graced
| the history of the proudest of American
states; and may be pardoned if | mani
| fest in this presence an enduring pride in
| the great territory which has SO signaily
honorei me; and in so doing, could not
detract, if would, from the possibilities
which rest within the bosom of Montana.
| There can be no unfriendly relations be-
! tween Washington and Montana. We
have stood shoulder to shoulder in the
past in our fight for the inestimable boon
| of American citizenship, and we stand
shoulder to shoulder to-day insisting upon
| emancipation, and that immediate, from
condition of federal vassalage. We
stand shoulder to shoulder in insisting
| that the certificate of American citizen
ship shall be given not only to the terri
tory of Washington but to the territory OF
Montana, and Mr.. Toole and myself have
long since struck hands upon that pro-
position.
| The honorary members received
| good treatment from Major Magin-
mis-, who as a working journalist him
self, when he and Major Roman edited
the Rocky Mountain Gazette, was
we'll qualified to sympathise with the
press pioneers. Speaking of Judge
Wilkison he paid a well-merited til
butte to the brave men of old. In his
report, Secretary Collins referred tt
the said honorary members in terms
which indicate that journalism is il
| Montana the pathway to fame:
:, The honorary members, confined ant
rightly, too. to those who at some time, il
some way or another, here or elsewhere
have been connected with the press, nov
number forty. 1t is a noteworthy fac
that many of them rank among the intel
leetual giants of this territory, the leader
of men and foremost in public spirit an,
! enterprise. We might mention man
names, such as those of ex Delegate M
ginnis, Col Sanders, Hon. w. A. Clark
J | A. G.. Bptkin, and others whose names al
, household words in Montana and Q
whom the association has a special priv
lege to be proud. II ought to be, too, a
incentive to those of us who are now O
the active roll, undergoing the unceasin
grind of newspaper work, to look owe
: this honorary list occasionally and reflee
/ upon what has been accomplished b
these gentlemen. Even though fame Q
!. fortune came after they quit the tripoe
r it is none the less a satisfaction-a mai
ter of encouragement at least to knoN
! that some of them We're once in the sam
: boat that we are now, and may have ha
, to pull against the current just as hard.
doubt very much if there is another prt
:, fession Or avocation in Montana that ca
. muster as bright retired roll as this a
sociation.
The foregoing extracts are instrut
q tive as well as interesting. They il
, dicate that Montana is an intelleetus
: focus, whence noble thoughts an
, noble sentiments will radiate whe
she is accorded the full measure {
, statehood.